Definition : Called aurora borealis in the northern hemisphere and aurora australis in the southern hemisphere, aurorae are emissions by atmospheric atoms and molecules after being excited by electrons precipitating from the nightside magnetosphere. A visible manifestation of magnetospheric
substorms. Also see (e.g) Dendy, Richard, ed. _Plasma Physics: an Introductory Course_, Cambridge University Press, 1993.

The Plasma Dictionary is based on the Fusion & Plasma Glossary that was originally created on FusEdWeb, Fusion Energy Educational Website which has additional introductory information on plasma and fusion science .

A planet (from the Greek planete means "wanderer" or
more forcefully "vagrant, tramp") is an object in orbit around a star
that is not a star in its own right. Much like "continent," "planet"
is a word without a precise definition, with history and culture playing
as much of a role as geology and astrophysics

This is a "living glossary". This means that the glossary may grow every week as individuals submit new entries. This has been set up as a class resource for CEM-181H, the freshmen honors chemistry lecture at Michigan State University.